Enhanced Catalytic Effect of Ti₂CT_x-MXene on Thermal Decomposition Behavior of Ammonium Perchlorate

Transition metal carbonitrides (MXenes) are promising catalysts due to their special structures. Recently, many studies have shown that MXenes have a catalytic effect on the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (AP). However, the catalytic effects have not been extensively investigated. Therefore, it is important to illustrate the catalytic mechanisms of pure MXene in AP thermal decomposition. Herein, the catalytic properties of Ti₂CT_x for ammonium perchlorate (AP) thermal decomposition were investigated by numerous catalytic experiments. The results showed that the high-temperature decomposition (HTD) decreased by 83 °C, and the decomposition heat of AP mixed with Ti₂CT_x increased by 1897.3 J/g. Moreover, the mass spectrum (MS) data showed that the NH₃, H₂O, O₂, N₂O, NO, HCl, and NO₂ were formed. In addition, according to the X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectrum, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), and X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS) results, the Ti₂CT_x nanosheets can adsorb the gaseous products and react with them in-situ, generating anatase-TiO₂ and carbon layers. The Ti₂CT_x, as-resulted anatase-TiO₂, and carbon can synergize and further catalyze the thermal decomposition of AP when both electron and proton transfers are accelerated during AP decomposition.